Mirror mounting apparatus



June 14, 1960 M. E. FRANCISCO 2,940,361

' MIRROR MOUNTING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 8, 1954 MARSHALL E. FRANCISCO INVENTOR HUEBNER, BEEHLER,

WORREL 8 HERZ/G ATTORNEYS just the. mirror are conducive to purpose.

United States Patent C) MIRROR MOUNTING APPARATUS Marshall E. Francisco, 1065 Vermont St., San Jose, Calif.

Filed Nov. 8, 1954, Ser. No. 467,419

5 Claims. (Cl. 88-98) Automobile rear view mirrors are mounted in a variety of places, depending upon body style, driver convenience and other considerations. In general they are mounted on the outside of the vehicle adjacent to the windshield or inside the vehicle in some central position, either above or below the windshield. The conventional mounting Y consists of a frictionally held universal connection permitting manual adjustment by swivelling movement but intended to resist displacement incident to vehicle vibration.

Anyone who has ever driven a vehicle incorporating a mirror with such a mounting soon realizes the disadvanutages thereof. Such mirrors are difiicult to adjust to individual convenience and to retain in adjustment. If, for

example, the mounting is sufficiently loose for ease of adjustment, it departs from adjustment as the vehicle is.

driven. If further loosened by automotive'vibration or deliberately, the mirror flops aimlessly around upon slight vibration, completely loses its utility and becomes an annoying distraction. if the mounting is tightened to hold the mirror in position, its adjustment is-extremelydifiicult. V

Again, when the mirror is accidentally or purposely displaced while the vehicle is moving, the temporary lack of rear vision as well as the distracting efforts to read every driver wishes to avoid.

The described difiiculties are made more onerous by the frequency with which mirror displacement occurs. It is not unusual for the occupants of automobiles to displace the mirror for use in observing personal attire, make-up, hair condition and the like. Such displacement requires readjustment if the mirror is to serve its intended Service station attendants, car washers, and others working in or about automobiles also frequently displace the mirrors. The broad essence of the present invention resides in the discovery of an apparatus for mounting mirrors and the like which permits adjustable positioning thereof and once adjusted insures return to adjusted position when intentionally or inadvertently displaced therefrom by bending of a resiliently flexible portion thereof.

An object of this invention is to provide an improved mounting device for mirrors and similar articles.

Another object is to provide a mirror mounting device hazards of the character 2,940,361 Patented June 14, 1960 ICC selected positions, its dependable retention in such positions against vibration and the like tending toward accidental displacement thereof, its deliberate displacement by forces applied thereagainst, and its automatic return to precise pre-set position when the displacing forces are removed.

Another object is to provide a mounting device for mirrors adapted upon application of pressure to permit displacement of the mirror from a predetermined adjusted attitude by distortion of a resiliently flexible portion thereof and to return the mirror to the precise predetermined attitude upon release of such pressure;

Another object is to provide a mounting arrangement for an automotive mirror which permits convenient mounting and adaptation to selected viewing positions, fixedly and dependably retains the mirror in such position when subjected to jarring, vibration or shock of automotive operation, is temporarily displaceable from .such positions under application of sufiicient pressure thereagainst, and which returns the mirror to original position upon release of the displacing pressure.

-Other objects are to provide a mirror mount in accordance with the foregoing objects especially adapted for use with vehicle rear view mirrors which is easily installed and set, eliminates hazards of adjustment while driving, has temporary utility as an auxiliary mirror because of its displaceability, resist displacement incident to the vibrations and shocks of vehicle operation, is displaceable to permit cleaning and polishing access therearound, is simple and economical and highly effective for its intended purposes. 1

These and other objects will become more fully apparent upon'reference to the following description and drawings. 7

In the drawings:

Figure l is a fragmentary transverse cross section through an automotive vehicle showing the present invention incorporated therein.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary longitudinal cross section through the vehicle of Figure l.

Figure 3 is a somewhat enlarged side view of a mirror mounted on the vehicle of Figures 1 and 2 by the mounting device of the present invention.

Figure 4 is a detail view of the mounting device with portions thereof shown in cross section.

Figure 5 is an exploded perspective view of the mounting device as shown in Figure 4. I

Referring more particularly to the drawingz Although the mirror and mounting device'ftherefor of the presentinvention are not limited to use on vehicles,

they are conveniently described in association therewith.

A vehicle 10 is fragmentarily shown in Figures land 2 with the portions thereof illustrated in which mirrors of thenature provided by the pres'entinvention are general- "ly mounted.' Among the conventional portions of the vehicle which are noted here for descriptive reference are a windshield 11, a dash board shelf or cowling 13, a roof panel 14 and adoor or side panel 15. Rear view mirrors 16, 17 and 18 are mounted respectively, outside cific number or placement of mirrors, nor in fact to their use in a vehicle, as mentioned above- Further, the

1 mounting may also be employed to mount other objects in various environments.

This invention relates to the mounting device, indicated generally at 2 0. The princ iples' of the invention in which it- ,oscillationl V. :1 9 3 fthaLshown, including a housing 59 providing aback surface 151, with 1 a rearwardly extended boss 52. The reflecting 'surface 53 of the mirror,is,mountedfin (the T '3 i are the same regardless mirror is placed or supported and thus the following discussion will refer to the upper inside mirror 17, it being understood that the mounting arrangements for mirrors '1'6 and18 are the same.

Themounting device 20 includes-a bracket 23 providingrantannular rim or base 24 located ina predetermined :planeihaving a plurality of holes 25. The bracketis fixedly secured to the roof panel 14 byinsertingscrews '26through holes 25 and into the panel; Bracket 23 further provides a spherically surfaced socket'27 having "a central opening 28, an inner concave surface 29 and an outer convex surface 30.

member 35 havinggan elongated threaded shank 36 .ex-

' tended through they opening 28 in the bracket. The shank r-is of somewhat smaller-diameterthan opening '28 and for thisjrwsoutheishank fits loosely )within the opening. A spherically surfaced disc 37 is provided on the mounting 'member having 'a convex'surface 38 complementarilyfitted to the concave surface -29 of the mounting bracket socket 27. 'jThe mountingmember thus universally of the position in which the.

ing bracket 23 to-suchpanel.

. surfaced disc 37 and "socket 27 accommodate a variety .f Further, the mounting device 20 includes a mounting I '7 of angular po's'rtions to-suitvarious heights jofpersons and various seating positions in the drivers seat. The nut is then tightened against themounting bracket and the mirror thereby fixed in the'desired'predetermined attitude. Since spring 45 is relatively axially rigid, the mirror is not permitted to flop, dangle or oscillate around the shank 36-duri-ng-adjustment-thereof or after it is fixed in thedesiredposition. 'In practice, the mirror isheld icoupledto the, mounting bracket for -movement into a V variety of angular positionsvwithin limits defined by the relative diameters of opening 28 andshank 36.- The shank extends 'from' the disc and van adjusting nut 39 is thre'adably fitted on the shank for tightening against. the mountingbracket whereby the shankrr ay be rigidly fixed in-anyof its angulanpositions; Anenlargedhead is provided on the;opposite end of the shank 'fr'om the disc having'a flat'mounting'surface 41.

fl'hemounting device 20 also includes a fclativelyshort len th o helic p g .4 having wi r 9 volutions 46. These convolutions aretightly wound so ..that adjacent convolutions' are maintained in intimate engagement'unless separated 'by overcoming the force of the spring. One of the end convolutions is rigidly connected, as by welding, to the mounting surface 41 of the;mounting member 35 sothat the axis of the v"spring when in normal or'static condition, as shown in Figure 3, is in "collinear alignment with thelongitudinal axis of,shank 36 of thermounting member. Because of its tightly and closely wound construction, the spring is a resistant to longitudinal or axial deflectiomas well as to fendward separations of the :convolutions. Nevertheless,

, the spring "will yield under application of suificientmansolidly since the springfis strong enough to resist displacement incident to .normal jarring, shock or vibration V .ofithe vehicle during roadetravel.

The mirrors16 and 18 and their associated mounting devicesaremounted similarly to mirror 17 and the commentsabove applyequally thereto.

, ,The mirror may be grasped manually and moved into a displaced position for temporary auxiliary purposes such ;-as:for use as a face mirror in applying make-up or'the like. Whenireleased in such displaced position, spring 45 snapslthemirror back into the precisely predetermined iatt itude in which it was previously adjusted- -If the mirrors iareiinadvertently brushed against by 'service station attendants or others while cleaning the mirrororthecar, or otherwise so as to cause bending of the; springs 45, they immediately return to desired posi- V-tion without requiring tedious readjustment. Addition- ;ally, mirrors having such mounting arrangements readily hear, to permit dusting and polishing of the dashboard .in anyway afiecting the setting adjustment'of the nurror.

shelf 13 in the case of mirror 18 for example, or to permitgaccess to positions adjacent to the mirrors without It will be apparent from the foregoing that a highly convenient and adaptable mounting arrangement for mif- 31:31 pressure :to displacement from its static position of axial alignment with the shank or to longitudinal :dis-

' placement; However, oncesuchspressure is'relieved the spring is adapted to return to thepreciseaxialposition was previouslyplaced with little I or. no axial mirror '17 maybe of anylsuitable at:

front oftheihorrsing. The bossis rigidly connectedas by w elding, to the end convolution 460T spring '45 oppo- 7 'site the convolution connctedto moun ting me'mber' 35. It will be apparent that the :mirror is mount'ed 'fortirlovejment controlled by the universallyicoupled' bracket '23 and-mounting memberSS "and by the 'spring 45 It .will,

or course, be apparent that the structure described for rorshas been provided; Such mounting eliminates many 7 ;of the diflicnlties previously attendanttorear view mirrors in vehiclesandto anadded safety factor ther AS e 7,plainedabove, however, the mounting arrangement is not ,t'olbe limited-1o use-inyehicles but is adapted for use in many,other environments "as will bereadily apparent to Although the invention been 'hei'ein shown and describedin whatds conceivedjtobe the most practical fand-llpreferred embodiment, it; recognized that depar- ,may'be madeIt here from within the scope ofthe invention, which is-not to be limited to thedetails disclosed herein but is to :be accorded 'the full-scope of the claims so as to-embrace any and allequivalent devices and ap- Panama :1 a a 'qHaving'describedmyinventign, what I claim as new anddesiretosecure by -Letters'Patentis': V

1. Incombination witha niirror having ;a.rear n1ount ing surface, a mounting "bracket, a shank'having a Ionygitudinal axis, meansmounting the shank on the bracket universal adjust ment may be'provided at the opposite end I of the spring adjacent to themirroror, for thatma'tt'er,

at both ends of the spring, if preferred. -Alsb,i y equivalent s'tructu'reaccommodating adjustment andsubject toibeing secured after adjustmentmay' be substi'tut'ed for the ball and socket structure. shown.

y 7 Operation 7 t t The matinee-amt utility "or the resent, invention is inventionhre'jconnected toa supportfsnch as the rooffpanel 14"of'a'whicle 10, byfirst' the mountbelieved'tobereadily apparent and is hr'ieflysummariied at-this'point.v The mirror 17 andmorintin'g 'd'evice20"of for adjustable movement of the shank into;a plurality of horiz ontal extended angular positions relative to the ,bracket a-helical-spring having adjacentconvolutions in engagement providing an axis and having an end convolution connectedtothe shank and an opposite end convolut on connected-to the mirror, the spring being posi- --tioned"with the axis thereof substantially colinear. with the axis of the shank and; supporting the mirror thereon,

:thefspri'ng Ebein'g ofisuchistreiigth'in relation tothe weight of the mirror that the adjacent convolutions ofr-the'spring st-e iler "in I ate engagement inopposi-tion'to the 'weight' ofithe mirr or iiriposed thereon. 1 1

2. In an automotive vehicle, the combination of a base, a mirror, and an adjustable linkage interconnecting the mirror and the base adapted to support the mirror in adjusted positions on the base and although accommodating displacement of the mirror by forces applied thereagainst being adapted upon removal of said forces to return the mirror to adjusted position, said linkage comprising a universally adjustable member, means for releasably locking the member in adjusted position, and a helical spring having an end rigidly connected to the adjustable member and an opposite end connected to the mirror having engaging adjacent convolutions, said spring being of suflicient strength to maintain its adjacent convolutions in engagement in opposition to the weight of the mirror supported thereon, the locking member being releasable to permit adjustment of the universal member so that the spring and mirror can be selectively positioned and being lockable to hold the base and end of the spring connected thereto in position while accommodating displacement of the mirror by bending of the spring.

3. A mounting apparatus for the rear view mirror of an automotive vehicle comprising a base, a universally adjustable member mounted on the base, releasable means for locking the adjustable member in adjusted position, a helical spring having engaging adjacent convolutions providing an end connected to the base and an oppositely substantially horizontally extended end, and means on the extended end of the spring mounting a rear view mirror thereon, said spring being of suflicient strength to maintain its adjacent convolutions in engagement in opposition to the weight of the mirror supported thereon, the locking member being releasable to permit adjustment of the universal member so that the spring and mirror can be selectively positioned and being lockable to hold the base and end of the spring connected thereto in position While accommodating displacement of the mirror by bending of the spring.

4. A rear view mirror for an automotive vehicle comprising a bracket adapted to be attached to such a vehicle, the bracket having a base located in a predetermined plane; a shank swivelly mounted on the bracket and outwardly extended therefrom; means mounted on the shank engaging the bracket releasably holding the shank in swivelly adjusted position on the bracket in selected anggular relation to the plane of the base; a mirror having a reflective side and an opposite side; and a helical spring having engaging adjacent convolutions providing one end rigidly connected to the shank, an opposite end connected to said opposite side of the mirror, and being substantially horizontally extended therebetween, said spring normally holding the mirror in selected relation to the plane of the base but being resilient to accommodate deliberate or iri advertent displacement of the mirror from selected posi- .tion subsequent to which the spring returns the mirror to position.

5. A rear view mirror for an automotive vehicle comprising a bracket adapted to be attached to such a vehicle; an elongated rigid shank mounted on the bracket, outwardly extended therefrom, and having a longitudinal axis; a head rigidly secured to the outwardly extended portion of the shank having a substantially circular flat mounting surface; an elongated helical spring having a plurality of engaging adjacent convolutions of uniform diameter substantially equal to the diameter of the mounting surface, a longitudinal axis, and being of a predetermined length, there being opposite endmost convolutions, one of the endmost convolutions being rigidly concentrically connected to the mounting surface of the head; a mirror having a reflective side and an opposite side; and a boss rigidly connected to said opposite side of the mirror and having a substantially circular fiat mounting surface of substantially the same diameter as the mounting surface of the head and being concentrically rigidly connected to the endmost convolution of the spring opposite to the endmost convolution connected to the head, the spring being of such strength in relation to the weight of the mirror supported that the adjacent convolutions are retained in intimate engagement until separated by an independent force imposed thereon, the length of the spring being such as to return the convolutions to intimate engagement after being separated by such an independent force without appreciable vibratory movement of the spring.

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